Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have one more question. The people who are eligible to go forward for officer positions need two years' service on the council. Only one of the 58 members, or one out of 206 people with votes, is entitled, which is a very narrow focus. To run for election, a person must be one of 58 council members. This excludes the vast majority of people, including some very good people who have put themselves out there and said that they are interested in this reform programme. Is this not a significant impediment to bringing in new people? It is also very male dominated, which is a problem in its own right. Is this not an impediment?